Front fender shield



May 23 19440 G GREENv 2 349 421 FRONT FENDER SHIELD Filed April 2, 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet l I 22 11611 to 1" auge Q. greew W 19440 G. G. GREEN FRONT FENDER SHIELD Filed April 2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n velztor y G. G. GREEN FRONT FENDER SHIELD Filed April 2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as'hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to close the wheel opening in a front fender.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a front fender shield of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be swung by the front wheels, thus interfering in no way with the steering of the vehicle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a front fender shield of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, attractive in appearance, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a front fender shield constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device mounted on a vehicle.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention with the panel omitted, showing the supports for said panel in cross-section.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the panel, looking at the inner side thereof.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the panel clamping bar.

Figure l is a detail view in vertical section through one of the adjusting turnbuckles, taken substantially on the line II of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail view of one of the slidable panel supporting rods, showing a portion of the panel in section.

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of one of the adjustable pane1 supporting brackets.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of theinventlon which has been illustrated comprises a panel I of suitable material. The panel I is adapted to be mounted on the outer'side of a front vehicle fender 2 in a manner to close the wheel opening therein, said panel having the general shape the marginal portions of the panel I, with the exception of the lower portion thereof, for engagement with the fender 2. Fixed on the end portions of the tuna I is a pair of inwardly projecting rods 4, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Fixed on the frame 5 of the vehicle is a pair of base members 6- Projecting laterally from the base members 6 and extending adjacent the front and back of the wheel I of the vehicle are brackets or arms 8 having interposed therein tumbuckles 9. The turnbuckles 9 permit longitudinal adjustment of the arms 8. Lock nuts I0 are provided for securing the desired adjustment. The arms 8 terminate in right angularly extending outer end portions II having fixed thereon tubular bearings I2 in which the rods 5 are slidably engaged. Thus, the panel I is supported for sliding movement on the arms 8. Bifurcated connections l3 (see Fig. 9) secure the bearings l2 to the inturned flange I4 on the vehicle fender 2. Coil springs I5 are connected to the inner ends of the rods 4 for yieldingly securing the panel I in position against the vehicle fender 2.

Secured by U bolts I5 on the steering arm IB of the vehicle is a substantially c-shaped bar II, the oppositely curved end portions IB of which extend around the front and back of the wheel I for engagement with the panel I. Contact knobs I9 are provided on the ends of the substantially C-shaped bar I1. Turnbuckles 20 are interposed in the bar I! for permitting adjustment of the end portions I8 thereof. Lock nuts 2I secure the adjustment of the turnbuckles 20.

Mounted on the upper portion of the panel I-, on the inner side thereof, is a plate 22. Projecting inwardly from the plate 22 is a bolt 23. The bolt 23 passes through a vertical slot 2| in a metallic bar 25 on the inside of the panel I. On the lower end of the bar 25 is a hook 26 which is engaged in an opening provided therefor in a bead or flange 21 on the lower edge of the panel I. The upper end portion of the bar 25 is engageable with the bead or flange ll of the vehicle fender 2. A resilient rubber block 28 is inserted and compressed between the lower portion of the bar 25 and the panel I. Nuts 29 are threaded on the bolt 23 for clamping the bar 25 against the fender head or flange I4.

It is thought that the operation of the shield will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the coil springs I5 normally maintain the panel in position against the of the opening. A suitable gasket 3 is applied to outer side of the vehicle fender 2. Swinging movement of the front wheels of the vehicle up to a certain degree does not disturb the panel I. However, ii a comparatively sharp or acute turn is made, one end of the bar ll engages the corresponding portion of the panel I and swings this end of said panel outwardly. There is sufflcient play between the relatively moving parts, such as the elements 4, l2, et cetera, to permit this. When the front wheels I of the vehicle are" straightened out, the panel I is returned to its position against the tender 2 by the coil springs l5. The construction and arrangement is such that the shield may be expeditiously installed without the necessity of making material structural alterations in the vehicle. Any suitable means may be provided, if desired, for lubricating the moving parts and for protecting them against foreign matter and wear.

It is believed that the many advantages of a front fender shield constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of said shield is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be restorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A displaceable shield device for a front vehicle fender, comprising a shield, means carried by the shield and engaging the fender for holding the upper portion of the shield inwardly against the fender and permitting vertical movement of said shield relative to said fender, arms within the fender carried by and projecting laterally from the vehicle frame to extend toward the shield across the adjacent vehicle wheel at the front anad rear of the latter, tubular bearings carried by the outer ends of said arms, rods carried by and projecting inwardly from the shield and slidably extending through said hearings, tension springs connecting the inner ends of said rods with the vehicle frame to yieldingly hold the lower portion of the shield inwardly against the fender, and a bar secured in a horizontal position to the steering arm of the vehicle wheel and having curved ends extending around the front and rear of said wheel to engage and force the lower portion of the shield outwardly from the fender against the action of said springs when the wheel is steered beyond a limited angle from their straight course.

2. A displaceable shield device for a front vehicle fender, comprising a shield, means carried by the shield and engaging the fender for holding the upper portion of the shield inwardly ment of said shield relative to said fender, arms within the fender carried by and projecting laterally from the vehicle frame to extend toward the shield across the adjacent vehicle wheel at the front and rear of the latter, tubular bearings carried by the outer ends of said arms, rods carried by and projecting inwardly from the shield and slidably extending through said bearings, tension springs connecting the inner ends oi said rods with the vehicle frame to yieldlngly hold the lower portion of the shield inwardly against the tender, and a bar secured in a horizontal position to the steering arm of the vehicle wheel and having curved ends extending around the front and rear of said wheel to engage and force the lower portion of the shield outwardly from the fender against the action of i said springs when the wheel is steered beyond a against the fender and permitting vertical movejlimited angle from their straight course, and means to adjust the lengths of said arms, and means to adjust the length of said bar.

3. A displaceable shield device for a front vehicle fender, comprising a shield, means carried by the shield and engaging the fender for holding the upper portion of the shield inwardly against the fender and permitting vertical movement of said shield relative to said fender, arms within the fender carried by and projecting laterally from the vehicle frame to extend toward the shield across the adjacent vehicle'wheel at the front and rear of the latter, tubular bearings carried by the outer ends of said arms, rods carried by and projecting inwardly from the shield and slidably extending through said bearings,

' tension springs connecting the inner ends of said rods with the vehicle frame to yieldingly hold the lower portion of the shield inwardly against the fender, and a bar secured in a horizontal position to the steering arm of the vehicle wheel and having curved ends extending around the front and rear of said wheel to engage and force the lower portion of the shield outwardly from the fender against the action of said springs when the wheel is steered beyond a. limited angle from theirstraight course, said first-named means including a yieldable block centrally carried by the lower portion of the shield, a vertical bar hinged at its lower end to the lower edge of the shield and extending upwardly across said block to the top of the shield, and bolt and nut means connecting said vertical bar to the shield for drawing the former toward the latter and against the block so as to clamp the fender between the upper portion of said vertical bar and the upper portion of the shield.

- GEORGE G. GREEN. 

